Korn's Brian Welch Introduces New Record Label XOVR Records; VIDEO

Brian “Head” Welch, the guitarist from Korn, has decided that making loud noises on stage wasn’t quite enough, so he’s now entering the record label world with his latest venture, XOVR Records (that’s “Crossover Records” for those who don’t speak in mysterious abbreviations).

He’s teamed up with his long-time personal manager, David W. Williams, to launch this label, kicking things off with the tenth album from Spoken, a band that’s been around long enough to have survived more changes than anyone’s hairstyle in the ’90s. And to add some icing on the cake, Welch has dragged his Love And Death bandmate, JR Bareis, along for the ride.

Welch couldn’t help but gush about how excited he is to be working with his buddy David. “It’s a complete pleasure,” he says, although you have to wonder if that’s the polite way of saying he’s got enough on his plate without adding a record label to it. He goes on to hype Spoken as if they’re the last rock ’n’ roll band left standing, led by Matt Baird, who apparently grinds it out like some sort of music machine that just can’t quit.

Spoken’s new record, Reflection, will hit the shelves on March 15, and according to Welch, it’s set to be nothing short of “epic.” But then again, isn’t every album described as epic these days? Anyway, if you want to know what Welch considers “epic,” you can listen to the title track and pre-order the album if you’re feeling brave.

The label isn’t just about Spoken, though. Welch gave a teaser about another band, Dose Of Adolescence, that’s gearing up for a release in 2024.

Spoken added their two cents, offering up some introspective wisdom: “Our past should shape us, but it doesn’t have to define us.” They’re leaning heavily on the idea of lessons learned, but it sounds like they’d rather focus on what’s ahead. It’s all about the future, not getting bogged down by the mistakes of the past—because nothing says rock ’n’ roll like life lessons and philosophical musings.

Let’s see if XOVR Records manages to shake things up or if it’ll end up being just another Welch side project that gets shuffled off into the background. Either way, at least he’s trying something new—and these days, that’s worth a nod.